Who were "Dikus" that took possession of the land of Santhals when they failed to pay the debt?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Moneylenders
The Santhals found that moneylenders (dikus) were charging them high rates of interest and taking over the land when debts remained unpaid.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.2 The Santhals: Pioneer settlers … The Santhals, however, soon found that the land they had brought under cultivation was slipping away from their hands. The state was levying heavy taxes on the land that the Santhals had cleared, moneylenders (dikus) were charging them high rates of interest and taking over the land when debts remained unpaid, and zamindars were asserting control over the Damin area.…” |